The term "efficiency" is an abbreviation formed from the phrase "efficiency". In its most general form, it represents the ratio of the expended resources and the result of the work performed with their use.
Efficiency
The concept of efficiency (COP) can be applied to a wide variety of types of devices and mechanisms, the operation of which is based on the use of any resources. So, if the energy used for the operation of the system is considered as such a resource, then the result of this should be considered the amount of useful work performed on this energy.
In general terms, the efficiency formula can be written as follows: n = A * 100% / Q. In this formula, n is used to denote efficiency, A is the amount of work performed, and Q is the amount of energy expended. It should be emphasized that the unit of measurement for efficiency is percent. Theoretically, the maximum value of this coefficient is 100%, but in practice it is practically impossible to achieve such an indicator, since in the operation of each mechanism there are certain energy losses.
Engine efficiency
The internal combustion engine (ICE), which is one of the key components of the mechanism of a modern car, is also a variant of a system based on the use of a resource - gasoline or diesel fuel. Therefore, it is possible to calculate the efficiency value for it.
Despite all the technical advances in the automotive industry, the standard efficiency of an internal combustion engine remains rather low: depending on the technologies used in the design of the engine, it can range from 25% to 60%. This is due to the fact that the operation of such an engine is associated with significant energy losses.
Thus, the greatest losses in the efficiency of the internal combustion engine are due to the operation of the cooling system, which takes up to 40% of the energy generated by the engine. A significant part of the energy - up to 25% - is lost in the process of exhaust gas removal, that is, it is simply carried away into the atmosphere. Finally, approximately 10% of the energy generated by the engine is spent to overcome friction between the various parts of the internal combustion engine.
Therefore, technologists and engineers employed in the automotive industry are making significant efforts to improve the efficiency of engines by reducing losses in all of the above items. So, the main direction of design developments aimed at reducing losses related to the operation of the cooling system is associated with attempts to reduce the size of surfaces through which heat transfer occurs. The reduction of losses in the process of gas exchange is carried out mainly with the use of a turbocharging system, and the reduction of losses associated with friction - through the use of more technological and modern materials in the design of the engine. According to experts, the use of these and other technologies can raise the efficiency of the internal combustion engine up to 80% and higher.